Container and pallet for receiving blades of a fluid machine

ABSTRACT

A container and a pallet are described for sorting, storing, and/or transporting objects ( 2 ) having differing external dimensions and spatial edge contours ( 4 ), the container having at least one depression ( 5 ) shaped like a stepped pyramid having bearing surfaces ( 6 ). The bearing surfaces ( 6 ) at each pyramid step ( 7 ) are tailored to the edge contours ( 4 ) of the objects ( 3 ). In this case, a lower pyramid step ( 7 ) has bearing surfaces ( 6 ) with smaller dimensions than a pyramid step ( 8 ) positioned above it in the depression ( 5 ) in order to sort and position the objects ( 3 ) in the depression ( 5 ) stacked by height in accordance with their external dimensions.

[0001] Priority to German Patent Application No. 102 14 161.4, filed Mar. 28, 2002 and hereby incorporated by reference herein, is claimed.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

[0002] The present invention relates to a container and a pallet for receiving blades of a fluid machine according to the definition of the species in the independent claims.

[0003] A pallet for storing and transporting solid cargo is known from German Utility Model 295 00 107.0 U1. This pallet is used for transporting machine parts, rectangular pallet frames being formed by a pair of lengthwise beams and a pair of transverse beams. The lengthwise and/or transverse beams in turn have profile rails which extend parallel to the beam lengthwise direction. These profile rails have slots in at least some sections to receive fasteners for attaching the cargo. These slots extend in the lengthwise direction of the profile rails.

[0004] A pallet of this type made of lengthwise and transverse beams having corresponding fasteners has the disadvantage that it is not able to receive the machine parts in a form-fitting way and it has a high number of individual parts, such as lengthwise beams, transverse beams, profile rails, and fasteners

[0005] German Utility Model 92 04 751 U1 describes a pallet for storing and transport of solid goods, specifically motor vehicle lights. This pallet concerns an injection molded part made of plastic. Many of these pallets may be stacked together one above another, and placed in a transport container. The distance of equivalent interacting pieces of two directly over-another stacked pallets is smaller than the length of a light. Each pallet has a plurality of receptacles in a horizontal level in rows and columns for the motor vehicle lights. Such a pallet, which in its contour and dimensions of the support surfaces exactly matches the form and size of the motor vehicle lights, has the disadvantage that it cannot accept parts of variable size in a form fitting manner.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a container and a pallet for receiving blades of a fluid machine, which are producible using simple means and which allow placement sorted according to size and secure storage and transport.

[0007] The present invention provides a container for receiving blades (9) of a fluid machine having differing external dimensions and edge contours (4), the container (1) having at least one depression (5) shaped like a stepped pyramid having bearing surfaces (6) and a lower pyramid step (7) having bearing surfaces (6) with smaller dimensions than a pyramid step (8) positioned above it in the depression (5) shaped like a stepped pyramid in order to receive the objects (3) in the depression (5) stacked by height in accordance with their external dimensions.

[0008] The present invention also provides a pallet for receiving blades of a fluid machine (3) having differing external dimensions and edge contours (4), the pallet (2) having depressions (5) shaped like stepped pyramids, which are positioned in rows (22) and columns (23), having bearing surfaces and a lower pyramid step (7) having bearing surfaces (6) with smaller dimensions than a pyramid step (8) positioned above it in each depression (5) shaped like a stepped pyramid in order to receive the blades in the depressions (5) stacked by height in accordance with their external dimensions.

[0009] According to the present invention, a container is specified for sorting, storing, and/or transporting objects having differing external dimensions and spatial edge contours, the container having at least one depression shaped like a stepped pyramid having bearing surfaces. The bearing surfaces of each pyramid step are preferably tailored to the spatial edge contours of the objects. In this case, a lower pyramid step has bearing surfaces with smaller dimensions than a pyramid step positioned above it in the depression shaped like a stepped pyramid in order to sort and position the objects in the depression stacked by height in accordance with their external dimensions.

[0010] Using a container of this type, the smallest objects are advantageously positioned on the lowermost pyramid step of the depression and objects which become larger with each further pyramid step may be positioned above them. A container having a depression of this type may therefore receive multiple objects of differing sizes having differing spatial edge contours and store them precisely and protect them from damage. In this case, the largest object of an assortment is positioned uppermost and will cover the bearing surfaces of the first pyramid step, which are tailored to the spatial edge contours, while the smallest object of an assortment is positioned on the lowermost pyramid step. Therefore, the individual objects of an assortment are positioned stacked by height in the depression and oversizes may be sorted out.

[0011] A container having a depth of this type may store the objects in a space-saving way and may simultaneously be used for safe transport of the objects. In addition, the objects are protected on all sides against mechanical or corrosive damage by the depressions shaped like stepped pyramids.

[0012] In a refinement of the present invention, the depression is able to be sealed by a precisely fitted cover, in order to thus protect the stored objects from contamination. With a cover which seals gas-tight, the depression may also be filled with an inert gas or placed under vacuum, which provides a further significant improvement of the storability of the objects positioned in the depression.

[0013] In one embodiment of the present invention, the bearing surfaces of the container are tailored to contours of blades, having differing external dimensions and spatial edge contours, of an axial-flow fluid machine. Blades of this type have a complex spatial blade surface on the active blade region side, whose edges are susceptible to shocks and are therefore protected especially comprehensively in the depressions of the container according to the present invention.

[0014] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the bearing surfaces of the depression shaped like a stepped pyramid are designed so that they support blades of differing sizes of an axial-flow fluid machine in such a way that a blade front edge is positioned lower than an associated blade rear edge. The front edge of a blade is made round and is accordingly heavier than the pointed rear edge of a blade. Therefore, this embodiment of the present invention has the advantage that the blade is tailored better to the prepared bearing surfaces, since the heavier blade front edge falls into the lower-lying bearing surfaces provided for the blade front edge and remains there in this position due to the heaviness of the front edge. If an opposite arrangement was provided, i.e., the rear edge was stored lower than the front edge, the entire active blade region weight would rest on the delicate pointed rear edge and increase the danger of damage to the delicate blade rear edge. In addition, the blade rear edge could work into the walls of the depression shaped like a stepped pyramid and thus endanger reuse of the container.

[0015] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the bearing surfaces of the depression shaped like a stepped pyramid are designed so that they support blades of differing sizes of an axial-flow fluid machine in such a way that the Christmas tree profile of their blade root is supportable by horizontally positioned bearing surfaces of the pyramid step. This embodiment of the present invention has the advantage that the blade roots, which are heavy in relation to the active blade region, are received not by a slanted bearing surface, but by a horizontally positioned bearing surface, which ensures that slipping of the blade roots only occurs in the event of extreme movement of the container, if the horizontal bearing surfaces for the blade roots are tilted.

[0016] In addition, the bearing surfaces of the depression shaped like a stepped pyramid are designed so that they support blades of differing sizes of an axial-flow fluid machine in such a way that their blade rear edges are supportable freely suspended. In this embodiment of the present invention, the bearing surface is set back in the region of the rear edge in such a way that the blade rear edge itself is supported freely suspended, while the bearing surface is tailored to the spatial profile of the blade in the region of the blade rear edge. This free suspension of the blade rear edge is also reinforced in that the blade front edge is positioned on a bearing surface which is positioned lower than the position of the blade rear edge.

[0017] For a further embodiment of the present invention, the container is a one-piece deep-drawn part. A one-piece deep-drawn part of this type has the advantage that the depression shaped like a stepped pyramid has closed inner walls and is only accessible from the side of the largest pyramid step, i.e., the first step. A one-piece deep-drawn part of this type may be designed in such a way that a support frame having corresponding support feet or support walls is implemented simultaneously during the deep drawing.

[0018] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the container is a one-piece injection molded part. Closed-wall depressions, which are shaped like stepped pyramids, of a container for receiving objects having differing external dimensions and spatial contours may also be manufactured using this technology. The advantage of an injection molded part is that any arbitrary plastic granulate may be processed, while a deep-drawn part requires a prefinished plastic slab as a starting material.

[0019] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the container has a plastic composition. A container of this type made of a plastic composition has the advantage that it has a lower weight than embodiments in metal. In addition, a plastic composition has the advantage that metallic objects which are stored in the container made of plastic may not be abraded by movement on the bearing surfaces, which occurs with hard metal or ceramic containers.

[0020] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the container has a polymer from the group polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyimide, and mixtures thereof. These plastics have the advantage that they are easily shapeable and are therefore usable both in the deep-drawing technique and in the injection molding technique. Because it is provided that the container may be manufactured using a deep-drawing method, a granulate of the plastic materials above is not provided as a starting material, but rather a plastic slab which may be deep drawn.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the depression has a wall between the pyramid steps, which is reverse-drawn into the inside of the container. This wall, which is reverse drawn toward the inside, may be manufactured from a plastic slab through deep drawing or may be manufactured from plastic granulate in an injection mold. In this case, walls which connect the pyramid steps to one another also arise simultaneously with the pyramid steps.

[0022] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the container has an opening in the lower region of the depression. This opening is provided for the exchange of air and moisture for containers which are stored in a standard atmosphere. In this way, condensed water may escape out of the opening and a continuous air exchange may occur via the opening. Furthermore, openings of this type are helpful if the container is to be used not only for sorting, storing and transporting, but also for cleaning procedures of the objects stored therein, since only then is a forced gas circulation or a forced liquid circulation of this type possible for rinsing the objects.

[0023] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the container has vertical grooves from pyramid step to pyramid step, which are tailored to contours of sealing plates between the blade root region and active blade region of blades of an axial-flow turbine so they may slide therein. Grooves of this type, which are tailored to the sealing plates of blades of an axial-flow fluid machine so they may slide therein, have the advantage that the placement of the objects and the sorting of the objects in the depressions is made significantly easier. In addition, the vertical grooves have the advantage that, via the sealing plates, they may hold both the blade root region and the active blade region in a secured position. Since the sealing plates between the blade root region and the active blade region have the largest cross-sectional area of a blade of an axial-flow fluid machine, they simultaneously determine the pyramid step heights of the depressions shaped like stepped pyramids.

[0024] In a further embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the reverse-drawn walls of the depression shaped like a stepped pyramid, the container may have outer walls which enclose and support the depression and form a trapezoidal support frame in cross-section, the base side of the trapezoidal frame forming the lower side of the container and the top of the trapezoidal frame receiving the first pyramid step of the depression shaped like a stepped pyramid. For this purpose, the trapezoidal and slanted outer walls may form a closed frame, which has a projection in the base region in order to increase the stability of the container. Simultaneously, multiple containers may be stacked inside one another through this trapezoidal frame having a depression shaped like a stepped pyramid drawn from the upper side, if there are no objects to be received. This possibility of stacking has the advantage of space-saving temporary storage of containers before equipping the containers with objects.

[0025] The cover for the container cited above, which may seal the depression, may additionally have a collar, so that containers which are already equipped with objects may be stacked on one another and have the cover with the support collar as a spacer.

[0026] A further aspect of the present invention is to specify a pallet for sorting, storing, and/or transporting objects having differing external dimensions and spatial edge contours. In this case, the pallet has depressions shaped like stepped pyramids, which are positioned in rows and columns, having bearing surfaces. The bearing surfaces of each pyramid step are preferably tailored to the spatial edge contours of the objects. In this case, a lower pyramid step has bearing surfaces with smaller dimensions than a pyramid step positioned above it in each depression shaped like a stepped pyramid. The objects may therefore be sorted and positioned in the depressions stacked by height in accordance with their external dimensions. A pallet of this type has the advantage that it has many times the storage capacity of the container cited above. For a number of, for example, five pyramid steps per depression and four depressions per row and four depressions per column, up to one hundred objects may be sorted, stored, and transported using the pallet. Furthermore, it is possible to stack pallets equipped with objects on top of one another and thus house the blades needed for a multistage compressor of an axial-flow fluid machine in one single pallet stack.

[0027] For this purpose, in one embodiment of the present invention, the bearing surfaces are tailored to the contours of blades, having differing external dimensions and spatial edge contours, of an axial-flow fluid machine. This embodiment of the present invention, having bearing surfaces tailored to the spatial edge contours of the blades, has the advantage that the blades are supported carefully and over a large area in their edge regions and are held in the depressions on the particular pyramid steps.

[0028] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the bearing surfaces of the depressions shaped like stepped pyramids are designed so that they support blades of differing sizes of an axial-flow fluid machine in such a way that a blade front edge is positioned lower than an associated blade rear edge. This implementation of the bearing surfaces has the advantage that blades may be stored securely and may be supported on the heavier blade front edge, while the sharp blade rear edge is not stressed.

[0029] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the bearing surfaces of the depressions shaped like stepped pyramids are designed so that they support blades of differing sizes of an axial-flow fluid machine in such a way that the Christmas tree profile of their blade roots is supportable by horizontally positioned bearing surfaces of the pyramid steps. Using horizontal positioning of the blade roots of this type, it may be ensured that the blade roots do not load the bearing surfaces on one side, but rather the blade roots, which are heavy in relation to the active blade region, distribute their weight uniformly on the horizontally positioned bearing surfaces.

[0030] In a further embodiment of the pallet according to the present invention, the bearing surfaces of the depressions shaped like stepped pyramids are designed so that they support blades of differing sizes of an axial-flow fluid machine in such a way that their blade rear edges are supportable freely suspended. This freely suspended support is achieved in that the bearing surfaces are slightly set back from the rear edge, so that the blades are supported in their active blade region only in the rear edge region, but not directly on the rear edges. This has the advantage that the rear edges are protected from damage even in the event of impacts on the pallet.

[0031] A further embodiment of the present invention provides that the entire pallet is implemented as a one-piece deep-drawn part. For this purpose, an appropriately large plastic slab, which is deep drawable, may be placed in a mold and the depressions may be drawn into the recesses of the mold through heat and pressure.

[0032] In a further embodiment of the pallet according to the present invention, it is implemented as a one-piece injection molded part. For this purpose, an appropriate composition of plastic granulate may be prepared and premixed and distributed in an injection mold in such a way that one or more pallets may be manufactured simultaneously with each injection molding procedure.

[0033] In both representative forms of the pallet, as a one-piece deep-drawn part or as a one-piece injection molded part, the pallet has a plastic composition. This plastic composition has the advantage over metal masses that it has a lower weight and that mutual abrasion processes do not arise between the metallic objects stored in the pallet and the pallet itself, as would otherwise occur in pallets made of metal studs or pallets made of ceramic studs.

[0034] In a further embodiment of the pallet according to the present invention, it has a polymer from the group polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyimide, and mixture thereof. These plastics have proven themselves for cost-effective manufacture of pallets of this type.

[0035] In a further embodiment of the pallet according to the present invention, the depressions have walls between the pyramid steps, which are reverse-drawn into the inside of the pallet. In this way, depressions surrounded by closed walls arise on the pallet, into which the objects of differing external dimensions may be placed in a tailored way. The advantage of these drawn walls between the pyramid steps is that each object is completely protected from damage.

[0036] In a further embodiment of the pallet according to the present invention, the depressions each have an opening in their lowermost region. This opening has the advantage that condensed water or, if the pallets are stored outside, rainwater may flow out via the opening, and it may thus be ensured that the depressions of the pallets may be kept dry. Furthermore, forced circulation of air or other media may occur via this opening, in order to free the objects of contamination after the pallets are equipped, for example.

[0037] In a further embodiment of the pallet according to the present invention, it has vertical grooves from pyramid step to pyramid step on the lateral walls of each depression. These grooves are tailored to contours of sealing plates between the blade root region and active blade region of blades of an axial-flow fluid machine so they may slide therein. Since the sealing plates between the blade root region and active blade region of blades of an axial-flow fluid machine have the largest cross-sectional area, using vertical grooves in the pallet from pyramid step to pyramid step, which are tailored so the plates may slide therein, both horizontal alignment of the blade roots and secure storage of the front edge of the blade on the corresponding bearing surfaces of the depressions shaped like stepped pyramids may be achieved.

[0038] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the pallet has an outer edge made of outer walls which enclose and support the depressions and form a trapezoidal support frame in cross-section. In this case, the outer walls of the outer edge simultaneously form the outer circumference of the pallet. Through the trapezoidal cross-section, it is ensured that multiple pallets are stackable inside one another, as long as they are not equipped with objects in the depressions. The pallets may therefore be stored in an extremely space-saving way.

[0039] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the pallet has a removable cover plate having a peripheral horizontal collar. A removable cover plate of this type has the advantage that the depressions, which are positioned in rows and columns, may be covered using one single plate and may therefore be protected from contamination.

[0040] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the peripheral collar of the cover plate has a ring shoulder which is tailored to the outline of the support frame for stacking pallets equipped with objects. The outline of the support frame of a further pallet may be centered and aligned on the cover plate due to this ring shoulder of the peripheral collar of the cover plate, so that multiple pallets are stackable on one another.

[0041] The container and/or the pallet according to the present invention allows multiple sets of blades of a fluid machine of a turbojet engine, for example, to be received. A multistage axial compressor or axial turbine of a fluid machine has differing blade sizes from stage to stage. It is therefore possible with the aid of the present invention to house the blades of one stage in the particular level of a container and/or a pallet, which promises advantages in particular for automated assembly procedures in regard to efficient and error-free equipping of a rotor with blades, which ultimately leads to a simplified manufacturing process having elevated turnaround times.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0042] The present invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawing.

[0043]FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a container of a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0044]FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of a pallet of a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0045]FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a section of a pallet equipped with blades of the second embodiment of the present invention along section line A-A of FIG. 2.

[0046]FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a section of a pallet equipped with blades of the second embodiment of the present invention along section line B-B of FIG. 2.

[0047]FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a section of a pallet equipped with blades of the second embodiment of the present invention along section line C-C of FIG. 2.

[0048]FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a section of a pallet equipped with blades of the second embodiment of the present invention along section line D-D of FIG. 2.

[0049]FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross section views of several stacked pallets of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050]FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a container 1 of a first embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, blades of an axial-flow fluid machine are sorted, positioned, and stored in container 1. For this purpose, container 1 has a depression 5 shaped like a stepped pyramid. This depression shaped like a stepped pyramid has walls 14, which connect pyramid steps 7, 8 to one another, reverse-drawn into the container. Each pyramid step 7, 8 has bearing surfaces 6 which are tailored to the spatial contour of objects 3 positioned in the depression.

[0051] The tailoring of the contour of bearing surfaces 6 in the region of the blade front edge of the blades of an axial-flow fluid machine is shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 1. Blade rear edge 11 is freely suspended, since bearing surface 6 has a recess 25 in the region of blade rear edge 11, so that the pointed blade rear edge is supported suspended completely freely by bearing surface 6. Through this arrangement, in which blade front edge 10 is supported in a form-fitting way on a lower-lying bearing surface and the blade rear edge lies higher than the blade front edge, no load acts on the blade rear edge, especially if the blade front edge region is heavier than the blade rear edge region.

[0052] Due to the implementation of the depression in the shape of a stepped pyramid, object 3 having the largest dimensions may be positioned on bearing surfaces 6 of the first pyramid step, while objects having dimensions which get smaller may be positioned on the bearing surfaces of the pyramid steps lying underneath it. Therefore, objects may be housed stacked by height in depressions in a container of this type according to the present invention, spatially complex objects in particular, such as blades of an axial-flow fluid machine, able to be housed protected in the depression of the container.

[0053] In this embodiment of the present invention, depression 5 is enclosed by outer walls 20, which form a trapezoidal support frame 21, in which the depression shaped like a stepped pyramid is suspended. The base region of this trapezoidal frame 21 is designed so that it may be engaged with a cover plate 26 using a collar 27, which is indicated by dot-dash lines. A cover plate 26 of this type, which is also shown by dot-dash lines in FIG. 1, protects the depression and objects 3 positioned therein from contamination and simultaneously allows stacking of multiple containers 1 on top of one another. A ring shoulder 28 on collar 27 ensures a secure seat of cover plate 26 on the top of the container and simultaneously secures a container positioned on top from displacement.

[0054] Cross-sectional active blade regions 19 of this schematic view in FIG. 1 end at a sealing plate 17, whose external dimensions are partially shown by dashed lines. This sealing plate 17 is positioned between cross-cut active blade regions 19 and the blade roots, which are positioned behind the plane of the drawing, and has the largest cross-sectional area of a blade of an axial-flow fluid machine. At the lowermost point of depression 5, an opening 15 may be positioned in the form of a through hole of a few millimeters. This opening 15 is used for the purpose of allowing condensed water to run off. However, this opening may also be used in order to generate a forced circulation of inert gases or dry air or oily liquids in the depression, in order to remove or dissolve contaminations from the objects stored there, for example. The material from which a container for objects having differing dimensions, which is stackable in this way, may be manufactured may be a deep-drawn plastic slab or a plastic granulate molded using injection molding technology.

[0055] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the container is manufactured from polystyrene. However, other polymers from the group polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polypropylene, polyimide, or mixtures thereof may also be used. In order to achieve higher rigidity of the plastic, the plastic may have fillers such as ceramic particles added to it or may be mixed with short fibers. Short fibers of this type may have glass fibers or ceramic fibers.

[0056]FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of a pallet 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention. The components having identical functions as in FIG. 1 are identified using identical reference numbers and are not explained further.

[0057] Pallet 2 has depressions 5 shaped like stepped pyramids which are positioned in rows 22 and columns 23. These depressions 5 shaped like stepped pyramids may sort and position objects having differing dimensions in each of their steps 7 and 8, in order to store them in the pallet and/or transport them using the pallet. For this purpose, each of pyramid steps 7 and 8 in the depression shaped like a stepped pyramid has bearing surfaces, which are tailored to the edge contours of the objects, a lower pyramid step 7 having bearing surfaces 6 with smaller dimensions than a pyramid step 8 positioned above it, in order to sort and position the objects stacked by height in accordance with their external dimensions in the depressions. Depressions 5 are drawn from a top 30 and form reverse-drawn walls between pyramid steps 7 and 8, so that the objects which are positioned in the depressions of the pallet are protected from damage. Top 30 simultaneously forms a stable frame of the entire pallet, and outer walls 20 connect top 30 to a pallet base 29, which forms a peripheral collar of pallet 2. Due to outer walls 20 of pallet 2, which spread downward, pallets not provided with objects may be stacked inside one another and thus may be stored in a space-saving way.

[0058] The pallet shown in FIG. 2 is capable of receiving blades of an axial-flow fluid machine. For this purpose, the bearing surfaces are tailored to the contours of the blades, so that individual pyramid steps 7 and 8 do not run horizontally, but are tailored to the spatial edge contour of each blade in a detailed way. Furthermore, pallet 2 shown in FIG. 2 has vertically aligned grooves 16 in each depression. These grooves 16 are designed so that they may receive the sealing plates of each blade, which separate the active blade region from the blade root region. Simultaneously, these grooves 16 represent guide grooves, which are decisive during sorting and placement of the objects in pallet 2 and allow clear yes and no decisions for an arrangement stacked by height of the blades in pallet 2.

[0059] In this embodiment of the present invention, an opening 15 is positioned in the lowest region of each depression 5, as illustrated in FIG. 2, which allows moisture and condensed water to escape. Even during storage of unequipped pallets 2 outside a manufacturing facility, rainwater may drain via these openings 15, and therefore depressions 5 may be kept dry. On the other hand, it is possible to introduce a flush gas flow through the depressions via depressions 5, which frees the objects to be stored from contamination. For pallets 2, which are to keep the objects to be stored in an inert gas atmosphere or under vacuum, opening 15 may be used for evacuation or even for filling with inert gas. If, however, the objects to be stored are packed under vacuum or inert gas, pallets 2 of this type have no openings 15 at the lowest point of depression 5.

[0060]FIG. 3 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a section of a pallet 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention, equipped with blades 9, along sectional line A-A of FIG. 2. The components having identical functions as in the preceding figures are identified using identical reference numbers and are not explained further.

[0061] Sectional line A-A in FIG. 2 is in active blade region 19 of the blades of an axial-flow fluid machine, which are positioned in depressions 5 of pallet 2 for sorting, storage, or transport. Drawn walls 14, which connect individual pyramid steps 7 and 8, have their largest external dimension in the region of sealing plates 17 of the blades, which separate active blade region 19 from the blade root region (not visible in FIG. 3), in this embodiment of the present invention. Sealing plate 17 is only partially visible in FIG. 3 and therefore its outer edges are partially shown with dashed lines in FIG. 3. Bearing surfaces 6 are tailored to the spatial edge contours of the active blade region in the region of blade front edge 10 and blade rear edge 11.

[0062] Bearing surface 6 for blade front edge 10 is positioned lower than bearing surface 6 of blade rear edge 11 in each of the pyramid steps, so that heavier and more loadable blade front edge 10 rests completely on conformal bearing surface 6, while a recess 25 of bearing surface 6 in the region of rear edge 11 ensures that rear edge 11 is supported freely suspended. Top 30 passes into an outer wall 20, which extends spreading trapezoidally in cross-section to a pallet base 29 and thus forms a support frame 21 for pallet 2. Slanted outer wall 20 and depression 5, which is shaped like a stepped pyramid, form a pallet 2 which is stackable with other pallets as long as it is not equipped with objects 3.

[0063]FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a section of a pallet 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention, equipped with blades 9, along sectional line B-B of FIG. 2. The components having identical functions as in the preceding figures are identified using identical reference numbers and are not explained further.

[0064] Sectional line B-B is placed in FIG. 2 in such a way that it cuts through vertical grooves 16, so that the trace of active blade region 19 on sealing surface 17 is visible and the support of sealing plate 17 in vertical grooves 16 and on pyramid steps 7 and 8 is visible. While upper two blades 9 of an axial-flow fluid machine form hollow blades, so that a coolant gas may be introduced into the turbine operation via the cavity of the blades, in this embodiment, the two lower pyramid steps are provided for blades which do not have a cavity. A comparison of FIGS. 3 and 4 also shows that bearing surfaces 6 in each pyramid step which are tailored to spatial edge contours 4 have a relatively complex design, in order to suitably support both sealing plate 17 in its approximately rectangular structure and active blade region 19 in its particular edge region and to protect them from damage through drawn walls 14.

[0065]FIG. 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a section of a pallet 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention, equipped with blades 9, along sectional line C-C of FIG. 2. The components having identical functions as in the preceding figures are identified using identical reference numbers and are not explained further.

[0066] Sectional line C-C is placed in FIG. 2 in such a way that a cross-sectional view in root region 18 of a blade 9 is shown in FIG. 5. Blade roots 12 are supported by bearing surfaces 6 in root region 18 of each pyramid step 7 and 8 in such a way that they are aligned nearly horizontally. The cross-sectional surface of blade root 12 is smaller in this case than the cross-sectional surface of sealing plate 17, whose outline is therefore partially marked using dashed lines in FIG. 5. Drain opening 15 is consequently in the region of the lowermost sealing plate and therefore simultaneously forms the lowest point of depression 5. It is shown, using the cross-sectional views of FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, that bearing surfaces 6 in each pyramid step 7 and 8 follow a relatively complex spatial shape, so that the schematic top view in FIG. 2 only represents a limited overview, and the tailoring to the spherical edge contour of the objects to be sorted, stored, and/or transported may not be reproduced in detail.

[0067]FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a section of a pallet 2 of the second embodiment of the present invention, equipped with blades 9, along sectional line D-D of FIG. 2. The components having identical functions as in the preceding figures are identified using identical reference numbers and are not explained further.

[0068] Sectional line D-D in FIG. 2 is positioned in such a way that it shows a depression 5 equipped with blades in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the blades. Bearing surfaces 6 therefore support blade root region 18 and active blade region 19 on their respective edges, blade front edge 10 being positioned lower in each pyramid step than the blade rear edge (not visible in this figure). Simultaneously, the sealing plate of each blade is positioned in vertical grooves 16.

[0069]FIG. 6 also shows a cover plate 26, which may cover top 30 of pallet 2, using dot-dash lines. This cover plate 26 has a collar 27 having a ring shoulder 28 in its edge region. This ring shoulder ensures alignment and sealing of cover plate 26 in relation to top 30 of pallet 2. Collar 27 of cover plate 26 may be used for the purpose of stacking equipped pallets 2 on one another in such a way that pallet base 29, which is centered by ring shoulder 28, is supported by collar 27. In this way, not only does cover plate 26 ensure that depressions 5 of pallet 2 are covered, but it is simultaneously used for the stackability of equipped pallets 2.

[0070]FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross section views of several stacked pallets of FIG. 6.

[0071] Fluid as defined herein includes, for example, gas and liquid fluids. Active blade region as define herein is the working section of the blade for contacting the fluid, for example an airfoil.

[0072] List of Reference Numbers

[0073]1 container

[0074]2 pallet

[0075]3 object

[0076]4 edge contour

[0077]5 depression

[0078]6 bearing surface

[0079]7 pyramid step

[0080]8 pyramid step positioned above it

[0081]9 blade

[0082]10 blade front edge

[0083]11 blade rear edge

[0084]12 blade root

[0085]13 Christmas tree profile

[0086]14 wall

[0087]15 opening

[0088]16 vertical grooves

[0089]17 sealing plate

[0090]18 blade root region

[0091]19 active blade region

[0092]20 outer wall

[0093]21 support frame

[0094]22 rows

[0095]23 columns

[0096]24 outer edge

[0097]25 recess

[0098]26 cover plate

[0099]27 collar

[0100]20 ring shoulder

[0101]29 pallet base

[0102]30 top of the pallet 

What is claimed is:
 1. A container for receiving blades of a fluid machine, the blades having differing external dimensions and edge contours, the container comprising: a section having at least one depression shaped like a stepped pyramid having bearing surfaces and having a lower pyramid step having first bearing surfaces with smaller dimensions than second bearing surfaces of a higher pyramid step positioned above the lower pyramid step in the depression so as to receive objects in the depression stacked by height in accordance with the differing external dimensions.
 2. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the bearing surfaces are tailored to contours of the blades of an axial-flow fluid machine.
 3. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the bearing surfaces of the depression are capable of supporting blades of differing sizes of an axial-flow fluid machine so that a blade front edge is positioned lower than an associated blade rear edge.
 4. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the bearing surfaces include horizontally implemented bearing surfaces for supporting a blade root of the blade.
 5. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the bearing surfaces are capable of supporting blades of differing sizes of an axial-flow fluid machine so that blade rear edges are supportable freely suspended.
 6. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the container is a one-piece deep-drawn part.
 7. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the container is a one-piece injection molded part.
 8. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the container has a plastic composition.
 9. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the container has a polymer selected from at least one of the group consisting of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyimide, and mixtures thereof.
 10. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the container is manufactured from a deep-drawable plastic slab.
 11. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the depression has a wall between the lower and higher pyramid steps, the wall being reverse-drawn into an inside of the container.
 12. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the container has an opening in a lowermost region of the depression.
 13. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the container has grooves extending vertically from the lower pyramid step to the higher pyramid step, the grooves being tailored to contours of sealing plates between a blade base region and an active blade region of blades of an axial-flow fluid machine.
 14. The container as recited in claim 1 wherein the section includes outer walls enclosing the depression and forming a trapezoidal support frame in cross-section.
 15. A pallet for receiving blades of a fluid machine having differing external dimensions and edge contours, the pallet comprising: a section having depressions shaped like stepped pyramids positioned in rows and columns, each pyramid having bearing surfaces and a lower pyramid step having first bearing surfaces with smaller dimensions than second bearing surfaces of a higher pyramid step positioned above the lower pyramid step so as to receive the blades in the depressions stacked by height in accordance with the differing external dimensions.
 16. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the bearing surfaces are tailored to contours of the blades of an axial-flow fluid machine.
 17. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the bearing surfaces of the depressions are capable of supporting blades of differing sizes of an axial-flow fluid machine in such a way that a blade front edge is positioned lower than an associated blade rear edge.
 18. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the bearing surfaces include horizontally implemented bearing surfaces for supporting a blade root of the blade.
 19. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the bearing surfaces are capable of supporting blades of differing sizes of an axial-flow fluid machine so that blade rear edges are supportable freely suspended.
 20. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the pallet is a one-piece deep-drawn part.
 21. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the pallet is a one-piece injection molded part.
 22. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the pallet has a plastic composition.
 23. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the pallet has a polymer selected from at least one of the group consisting of polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyimide, and mixtures thereof.
 24. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the pallet is manufactured from a deep-drawable plastic slab.
 25. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the depressions have walls between the lower and higher pyramid steps reverse-drawn into an inside of the pallet.
 26. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the pallet has an opening in a lowermost region of each of the depressions.
 27. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the pallet has grooves extending vertically from the lower pyramid steps to the higher pyramid steps, the grooves being tailored to contours of sealing plates between a blade root region and an active blade region of blades of an axial-flow fluid machine.
 28. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the pallet has an outer edge enclosing and supporting the depressions and forms a trapezoidal support frame in cross-section.
 29. The pallet as recited in claim 15 wherein the pallet has a removable cover plate having a peripheral horizontal collar.
 30. The pallet as recited in claim 29 wherein the peripheral collar of the cover plate has a ring shoulder interacting with an outline of a support frame for stacking the pallets. 